The international basketball federation Fiba announced on Friday that Qatar will host the men’s basketball World Cup in 2027.
The decision was surprising, especially because Qatar hosted the much-criticized soccer World Cup at the end of last year.
Qatar was criticized for trampling human rights as well as climate issues. The country has been accused of sports laundering, i.e. it has been found that it tries to polish its bad reputation by organizing sports competitions.
Finnish member of the board of the international basketball federation FIBA Antti Zitting told Urheilu on Friday that Qatar’s application came in as the only one by the deadline.
– Among other things, I brought up in the board that we have slightly different experiences with the direction of Qatar, but in the case of Qatar, they were very much related to the construction of the environment that happened around the World Cup. We already have all the arenas in basketball, which is one significant factor. The second is that all significant halls are within a radius of 20–25 kilometers, Zitting justified the approval of the application.
Director of coaching and former head coach of the Finnish Basketball Association Henrik Dettmann criticized the playing of the World Cup in Qatar in Helsingin Sanomat in November.
Helsingin Sanomat had asked Dettmann about watching or boycotting the World Cup.
– The honest answer is that I’m in a lot of pain with this issue. I may well be able not to look. I should not look. At the same time, it’s an insane insult to such a great sport as football, Dettmann said in Helsingin Sanomat. (you switch to another service)
Dettmann didn’t even want to mention Qatar’s name in Helsingin Sanomat in November. According to him, the pain arose from the fact that by watching, he would be leaning in the direction where these games shouldn’t even be.
However, Dettmann also stated that he does not want to be a prude in the matter. The 2019 Basketball World Cup was played in China, which is far from a model country in human rights matters.
Susijengi did not make it to the World Cup in China, but will participate in the next World Cup to be played in August-September in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
Dettmann was on the spot in the Philippines on Saturday watching the draw. In the same context, asked Dettmann what thoughts playing the World Basketball Championships in Qatar evokes.
– Yes, it was quite a surprise. You can say that it’s probably quite embarrassing from the eyes of the Nordics, but that’s life, Dettmann stated.
Dettmannin emphasizes that sports organizations should be stronger in taking a stand if sports and culture want to be role models.
– On the other hand, sports and culture are just the same business as any other business. With these rules, we go with what we are given, Dettmann stated.
Huff and Möttölä disappointed – Dettmann’s firm no to boycott
Former captain of the wolf gang Shawn Huff took a strong stance on Qatar’s selection on his Twitter account.
– The bigger ones first, the smaller ones after. Shame on Fiba. Greed knows no bounds, Huff wrote (you are switching to another service).
Huff told Iltalehti that he is really disappointed with Fiba as an organization. He can’t understand decision making. According to Huff, no ethics of any kind were taken into account when Qatar was allocated a place in the race.
– I can’t think of any other explanation than money. However, this is such a big event and everyone knows Qatar’s human rights violations. It doesn’t stand the light of day how the (soccer) World Cup was organized there, Huff stated For Iltalehti (you switch to another service).
Huff was elected Susijeng’s captain in 2015 and he held the role until last fall’s European Championships, when he ended his successful professional career.
Before Huff, he served as Susijeng’s captain for fifteen years Hanno Möttölä. The first NBA player in Finnish history is currently part of Susijeng’s coaching team.
For Möttölä, Fiba’s Qatar decision was a disappointment.
– From within the sport, the fact that Qatar was the only applicant and the only one that met the criteria in any way is also worrying. It perhaps reflects how one should start thinking that big sporting events around the world, be it the Olympics, the World Cup in football or basketball, must somehow be able to rationalize them. They could be set up from other places than the Middle East and even from China, Möttölä formulated.
However, despite everything, Dettmann would not boycott the World Cup in Qatar.
– No no no. Throwing yourself out doesn’t accomplish anything. The only way to influence is to be involved and then try to influence from within. Fortunately, there are still four years to go, and I think now is a good place to try to make an impact, Dettmann stated.